Last Friday in Chillicothe, a search warrant on Hirn Street turned into a major drug and gun bust, as detectives say they pulled more than 100 grams of suspected narcotics and three firearms from a single home.
According to investigators, the haul came from 186 Hirn Street and totaled about 135 grams of suspected narcotics: roughly 120 grams of fentanyl and 15 grams of methamphetamine. One man was arrested at the scene and is now in custody at the Ross County Jail.
Police Say Search Turned Up Drugs And Guns
In a detailed update, the Chillicothe Police Department reported that detectives and officers from multiple units executed the search warrant last Friday at 186 Hirn Street. Inside, they say they found approximately 135 grams of suspected narcotics, including about 120 grams of fentanyl and 15 grams of methamphetamine, along with three firearms.
Police noted that all seized evidence is being processed, and they described the operation as part of an ongoing investigation. Officials said additional charges could be filed once lab results and other evidence are fully reviewed.
Arrest And Current Charge
The department identified the arrested suspect as Karl Ponder. According to the Chillicothe Police Department, Ponder "was taken into custody" and is being held at the Ross County Jail pending legal action.
For now, Ponder faces a single charge: having weapons while under disability, a count that local officials linked to his prior drug convictions. The department did not list any additional allegations in its public post and said more information will be released as the case develops.
What “Weapons While Under Disability” Covers In Ohio
Under Ohio law, the charge of "having weapons while under disability" applies when people who fall into certain prohibited categories are accused of possessing firearms or dangerous ordnance. Those categories include individuals with specific felony convictions, such as felony drug offenses.
The law makes it a felony for anyone under such a disability to knowingly acquire, possess, carry, or use a firearm or dangerous ordnance. Violations of this statute are classified as third-degree felonies under Ohio Revised Code § 2923.13.
Why A Fentanyl Seizure This Size Matters
Law enforcement has been quick to emphasize the stakes whenever fentanyl is involved, and with about 120 grams seized in this case, officials are treating the Hirn Street bust as more than just another routine warrant.
The Ohio Attorney General's office has reported that fentanyl has been a major factor in thousands of overdose deaths statewide in recent years. At the same time, national monitoring networks, including NDEWS, have documented fentanyl's growing presence in local drug supplies, underscoring why police treat cases like this one as a high priority.
A Street That Keeps Showing Up In Raids
For longtime Chillicothe residents, the address might sound familiar. Hirn Street has surfaced in drug investigations before, and not just once.
Back in 2019, local station WKKJ reported that nine people were charged after search warrants on Hirn Street turned up drugs and several handguns. More recently, other operations in the city, including those described by the Scioto Valley Guardian, have documented additional raids and seizures tied to local narcotics investigations.
Detectives say the latest Hirn Street case is still active. Evidence is being processed, and lab results could shape the final list of charges. As court filings emerge in Ross County, they will reveal how prosecutors decide to move forward and whether any new counts are added against Ponder. Public records and official updates are expected to shed more light in the coming weeks.
